The two founding texts of Israeli identity, the Declaration of Independence and the Passover Haggadah, offer seemingly contradictory answers to the question of where our forefathers came from. On the one hand, “the Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people.” On the other, “in every generation, a person is obligated to see himself as if he personally left Egypt.”
So are we immigrants or natives? And can archaeology offer a meaningful answer?
This episode follows a journey in search of the roots of the ancient Israelites, moving through the story of the Exodus from Egypt, the mysterious cult sites of the Jordan Valley, and an archaeological investigation into the identity of the new populations that settled in Canaan. Were they connected to those who left Egypt, and what can the material evidence tell us about the origins of a people?
Up Next in Season 1
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Israel Unearthed - Episode 2 - Jerusa...
How Did Jerusalem Become Israel’s Eternal Capital?
Somehow, it feels as though Jerusalem has always been there. From the creation of the world at the Foundation Stone, through the Binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah, to Solomon’s Temple and Herod’s Temple, Jerusalem has long been the sacred heart o...
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Israel Unearthed - Episode 3 - Memori...
What Does Destruction Look Like in Archaeology?
Ruined towns, charred houses, layers of ash and fragments of personal belongings. Scenes of destruction from the distant past suddenly feel closer and more tangible than ever before. The events of October 7 have awakened historical echoes and invit... -
Israel Unearthed - Episode 4 - Our St...
In times of social polarization and political tension, voices are increasingly heard calling for separation, even suggesting a split into two states, the State of Jerusalem and the State of Tel Aviv. These ideas draw on an ancient past, when the people of Israel divided into the Kingdom of Israel...
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